Proverbs 3

NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)

AMP — Amplified Bible (AMP)

Verse 1

My son, do not forget my teaching.
Keep my commands in your heart.

My son, do not forget my ^[a]teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;

Verse 2

They will help you live for many years.
They will bring you peace and success.

For length of days and years of life [worth living]
And tranquility and prosperity [the wholeness of life’s blessings] they will add to you.

Verse 3

Don’t let love and truth ever leave you.
Tie them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you];
Bind them [securely] around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Verse 4

Then you will find favor and a good name
in the eyes of God and people.

So find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Verse 5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Do not depend on your own understanding.

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

Verse 6

In all your ways obey him.
Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.

^[b]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Verse 7

Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Have respect for the Lord and avoid evil.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.

Verse 8

That will bring health to your body.
It will make your bones strong.

It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts]
And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.

Verse 9

Honor the Lord with your wealth.
Give him the first share of all your crops.

Honor the Lord with your wealth
And with the first fruits of all your crops (income);

Verse 10

Then your storerooms will be so full they can’t hold everything.
Your huge jars will spill over with fresh wine.

Then your barns will be abundantly filled
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Verse 11

My son, do not hate the Lord’s training.
Do not object when he corrects you.

My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the Lord [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline];
Nor despise His rebuke,

Verse 12

The Lord trains those he loves.
He is like a father who trains the son he is pleased with.

For those whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Verse 13

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom.
Blessed is the one who gains understanding.

Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God’s word and life’s experiences],

Verse 14

Wisdom pays better than silver does.
She earns more than gold does.

For wisdom’s profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her gain is better than fine gold.

Verse 15

She is worth more than rubies.
Nothing you want can compare with her.

She is more precious than rubies;
And nothing you can wish for compares with her [in value].

Verse 16

Long life is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor.

Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.

Verse 17

Her ways are pleasant ways.
All her paths lead to peace.

Her ways are highways of pleasantness and favor,
And all her paths are peace.

Verse 18

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her.
Those who hold her close will be blessed.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is everyone who holds her tightly.

Verse 19

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations.
Through understanding he set the heavens in place.

The Lord by His wisdom has founded the earth;
By His understanding He has established the heavens.

Verse 20

By his knowledge the seas were separated,
and the clouds dropped their dew.

By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the clouds drip with dew.

Verse 21

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight.
Hold on to good sense and the understanding of what is right.

My son, let them not escape from your sight,
But keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Verse 22

They will be life for you.
They will be like a gracious necklace around your neck.

And they will be life to your soul (your inner self)
And a gracious adornment to your neck (your outer self).

Verse 23

Then you will go on your way in safety.
You will not trip and fall.

Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely
And your foot will not stumble.

Verse 24

When you lie down, you won’t be afraid.
When you lie down, you will sleep soundly.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Verse 25

Don’t be terrified by sudden trouble.
Don’t be afraid when sinners are destroyed.

Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless];

Verse 26

The Lord will be at your side.
He will keep your feet from being caught in a trap.

For the Lord will be your confidence, firm and strong,
And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap].

Verse 27

Don’t hold back good from those who are worthy of it.
Don’t hold it back when you can help.

^[c]Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due [its rightful recipients],
When it is in your power to do it.

Verse 28

Suppose you already have something to give.
Don’t say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow.
I’ll give it to you then.”

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.

Verse 29

Don’t plan to harm your neighbor.
He lives near you and trusts you.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
Who lives securely beside you.

Verse 30

Don’t bring charges against anyone for no reason.
They have not harmed you.

Do not quarrel with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.

Verse 31

Don’t be jealous of a person who hurts others.
Don’t choose any of their ways.

Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.

Verse 32

The Lord really hates sinful people.
But he makes honest people his closest friends.

For the devious are repulsive to the Lord;
But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].

Verse 33

The Lord puts a curse on the houses of sinners.
But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right.

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just and righteous.

Verse 34

He makes fun of proud people who make fun of others.
But he gives grace to those who are humble and treated badly.

Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners,
Yet He gives His grace [His undeserved favor] to the humble [those who give up self-importance].

Verse 35

Wise people receive honor.
But foolish people get only shame.

The wise will inherit honor and glory,
But dishonor and shame is conferred on fools.